A MOTHER has criticised a Basingstoke housing association for failing to deal with a damp problem in her flat.

Katie Povey, of Trinidad Close, Popley, first noticed damp on a wall just seven months after moving into the Sentinel Housing Association property last March.

The 30-year-old said: “They (Sentinel) did a mould wash and the guy that did it told me that it is coming in through the wall and that they need to strip the wall down, treat the wall and re-plaster it.”

Katie believes the damp has caused her two-year-old son, Kaiden, to suffer from asthma, and said it has also ruined furniture, including her son’s cot, and a number of his toys.

She added: “Before we moved, he had bronchitis as a baby and since we moved here, he has been diagnosed with asthma and I think the damp is to blame.

“We are having to live out of boxes because all our wardrobes went mouldy so I went and bought storage boxes so I wash and dry our clothes and put them in there.

“If I had the chance to move out, I would. I was so excited when I got this place and about having a garden and making it my own, and this has ruined it. It is ruining our carpets, wardrobes, drawers – it is just everywhere.”

Sentinel installed a dehumidifier, but this has failed to prevent the damp.

Caroline Madden, from Sentinel, said it has worked with Katie since she reported the damp in November 2013, and had liaised with the council to address the problem, but had found no building defects following a full survey.

She added: “An independent survey of Katie’s home also didn’t identify any issues with the property. We’ve supported Katie to try and reduce the humidity levels by taking simple steps like opening windows and closing the kitchen door when using her condensing tumble drier, to increase ventilation and regulate the temperature within her home.

“This is especially important as Katie has a vivarium tank for her pet tortoise, which generates a lot of heat.”

Sentinel has also fitted a humidistat fan and ventilation system.